Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, speaking to the TGRT Haber television network, referred extensively to Ankara’s strategy in Libya as well as Greek-Turkish relations, sending messages both to Athens and to the international community.
“We prevented a new war in Libya”
Fidan stressed that after the April 2019 operation Turkey established a military presence in Libya, which, as he explained, acted as a deterrent. He claimed that thanks to Turkey’s strategy no new war broke out, adding that Ankara had built its political moves on the prevention of conflict and had created channels of communication with all sides.
According to him, Ankara supports Libya’s unity and territorial integrity and opposes any scenarios of division. He underlined that Turkey has gradually cultivated relations with eastern Libya as well, “creating mutual trust”. Fidan did not rule out a visit to the country following that of intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin and the presence of Turkish warships in the ports of Tripoli and Benghazi.
Messages on the Eastern Mediterranean and Greece
Asked about Greek-Turkish relations, Fidan criticised Athens, accusing the Greek prime minister of making remarks that targeted Turkey. He argued that in Greece’s domestic politics, Turkey had become the number one issue, saying it had turned into a sort of political aspirin: whenever a problem arose, issues relating to the Mediterranean, the Aegean and Turkey were placed on the agenda. He likened this behaviour to Pavlov’s conditioned reflex.
The Turkish foreign minister maintained that Ankara had shown maturity and a willingness to reach a permanent resolution of disputes, even on the Cyprus question. He accused the Greek political leadership of becoming trapped in “cheap” domestic politics that, in his words, could have serious strategic consequences for Greece itself.
“They should abandon hostility towards Turkey”
Fidan urged Athens to free itself from what he described as an obsession with hostility towards Turkey and the Turks. He also accused Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias of responding to every problem by making statements against Turkey in order to gain political advantage.
He warned that such a policy might bring short-term gains but would ultimately lead to crises with huge geostrategic costs, adding that Turkey would continue to take the necessary measures.
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